Confession 156

Origin Story

The Buddha was in Sāvatthī. At that time, Thullanandā bhikkhunī liked to go in and out of people’s houses. She got up early, went to these houses, and stood in the middle courtyard, stood at the main gate, or stood in the kitchen. If renunciates and brahmins came on almsround, Thullanandā said: “Food hasn’t been prepared yet.” Or she said: “The owners aren’t home.” In this way, she went from house to house, and obstructed the alms seekers. Because the alms seekers didn’t receive food, they criticized her: “This inauspicious, inferior woman is stingy regarding families, and intentionally caused us not to receive food.”

Among the bhikkhunīs were those of few wishes, who knew moderation and practised the austerities. When they heard of this matter, their minds weren’t pleased, and they explained it to the Buddha in detail. The Buddha gathered both sanghas because of this matter. He knew, and intentionally asked Thullanandā bhikkhunī: “Did you really do this?” She answered: “I really did this, World-honored One.” The Buddha criticized her with all kinds of reasons: “How can you be called a bhikkhunī when you keep families to yourself?” Having criticized her with all kinds of reasons, he said to the bhikkhus: “For 10 benefits, I’ll lay down a precept for the bhikkhunīs. From now on, this precept should be recited thus:

Final Ruling

‘If a bhikkhunī keeps families to herself, it’s a pācittiya.’”

Explanations

“Pācittiya” means burn, cook, cover, obstruct. If she doesn’t confess the offense, it can obstruct the path.

Herein, this is an offense: If a bhikkhunī keeps lay families to herself, it’s a pācittiya. Whenever she keeps them to herself, she incurs a pācittiya. (End of rule 156.)